TROY >>...And at left wing for the Engineers, sophomore, from New Hartford, N.Y. No. 19, Mike Zalewski.

Well, not anymore.

Zalewski is now playing center for Rensselaer Polytechnic Insitute.

Coach Seth Appert made the move prior to last week’s games against Quinnipiac and Princeton.

As part of the move, junior Jacob Laliberte, who leads the Engineers in assists (13) and who’s played center most of his RPI career, moves back to left wing. Sophomore Milos Bubela is the line’s right winger.

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The trio played well in both games last week — a 3-3 tie with 6th-ranked Quinnipiac, a 5-2 triumph over Princeton.

“He is a center throughout his life,” Appert said of Zalewski (nickname ‘Z’ by his teammates). “He’s been both (left wing and center) but he’s played a lot of center before; this isn’t the first time he’s played center.”

“I played center my whole life until junior hockey,” Zalewski said. “I’ve been in the middle before, it’s not completely foreign to me.”

Zalewski fits the mold of a good college centerman, Appert said.

“Centers ideally are good skaters, smart, strong; he’s all those things. By having him in the middle, we’re smarter, bigger, stronger, faster down the middle of the ice.”

Laliberte scored a goal against Quinnipiac and two assists vs. Princeton. Zalewski did not register a point (neither did Bubela) but all three players were solid.

“I thought that line was good,” Appert said. “But I thought Jake was a big part of it,” Appert said. “It was his best weekend of the year (one goal, two assists, seven shots on goal) because he moved his feet the best he’s moved them all year. So, they were competitive as line. I liked their compete level last weekend. Z and Milos were more physically committed. When they’re physically committed, their game is very good. Sometimes, they fall off that a little bit and start playing cute and they get real average, real quick.

“Jake — skating ability is not his great strength but he plays his best when his feet are moving.

So, that line was very good. Z did a good job on faceoffs and did a good job in the (defensive) zone,” Appert added.

He also said, “I probably should (made the move) earlier this year but Z and Milos had such chemistry on the two (wings) that we kind of left it like that.”

Fellow freshman (then) Mark Miller centered for Zalewski and Bubela most of last season and Miller, Brock Higgs and Matt Neal have done so this season.

“Then they both got dinged up a little bit,” Appert said of Zalewski and Bubela (the latter of whom missed three games). “I probably should have done it earlier but the original reason I didn’t was the chemistry they had withe each other. Then they got dinged up, so the timing was right (last week).”

Finding that chemistry again has been tough for Zalewski and Bubela, who combined for 20 goals last season but have just three between them this year. Zalewski has two goals and 10 assists, Bubela one goal three assists, and just one point over his past 10 games.

“It’ll come,” Zalewski said. “We just have to keep playing the way we have been.”

What’s the biggest adjustment for a left-handed shot moving from left wing to center?

There really isn’t a glaring one, Zalewski says.

“I think just a much different job in the defensive zone,” he said. “It’s different coming out if the (defensive) zone. You’re not getting the puck and just taking off, you’re kind of starting the play back there. So, it’s a little different but it’s been good.

“I thought our line did well (last weekend),” Zalewski said. “We created a lot of chances and as long we keep getting those chances, they’ll start going in for us. So, it was a good weekend.”

Having the playmaker such as Laliberte on the left is a big plus.

“Yeah, I think Jake fits in perfectly with us,” Zalewski said. “Milos and I are both big bodies. Jake is creative with the puck, great shot, so ... so far, so good.”

Bubela is about to break out, Zalewski predicts.

“Last weekend was his best weekend,” Zalewski said. “I think he’s going to take off from here and it’ll be good to see that.”

Zalewski knows the Engineers need scoring — goals — from him and Bubela.

“Haven’t really been able to contribute much offensively,” he said of himself. “ I just hope to keep getting chances and start bearing down and burying them for us.”